I came across posts from c.2008 about the name of this organisation and note that one person suggested it would be good to have something in writing that proved which it could have been.
My grandfather built the steel rolling mill at Jamalpur, India and came back to the UK to set up a ‘French Shell Bar mill at his old employers in Middlesborough in 2013. He subsequently left them due to the requirement for French shell bar no longer being needed and joined the AID in Sheffield. He worked for them for several years and resigned in November 1919 to go back to India.
Hi resignation was acknowledged on a typed sheet signed on behalf of the Chief Establishment Officer Department of Aircraft Production. The heading states:
Establishment Branch
Aeronautical Inspection Directorate
5 & 6 Clements Inn, Strand WC2
Hope this helps if anyone is still interested. I would very much like to read the book by K. Meekcoms and if anyone can point me in the direction of a copy I would be really grateful.
Dr Chris Stewart-Moffitt
butearchaeologicalresearch@btinternet.com
By: Nicko - 8th April 2024 at 22:51
Hello Hoverbird.
A great topic. I was keen about the idea of finding the booklet by K Meekcoms, so googled it. There is a Google library reference for it, but the more interesting result that came up was this one…
https://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/showthread.php?t=51292
Apparently the member of that forum ‘Bletchley’ has a copy of Meekcoms – you might want to try through that forum, although the post does date from 2011.
Also, the googling indicates there is a person KJ Meekoms who has co-authored Air Britain books, some of which are somewhat related in a general way. The books date back 20 years or so but maybe he is still about. Try contacting through Air Britain?
Cheers.
By: hypersonic - 8th April 2024 at 15:45
Hoverbird,
As Oracal says it was previously called the Aeronautical Inspection Department (formed in Dec 1913). Basically a QA organization for aircraft, aircraft systems and components being supplied to the Royal Flying Corp (RFC). There is a lot of information on the UK National Archives website. This site covers a number of areas, of their work, as well as a detailed history. It states that in 1967 the inspection department was transferred to the Ministry of Technology.
I guess, today, their remit comes under the Military Aviation Authority (MAA) at Bristol. The MAA is an “arms length org” within the Ministry Of Defence (MOD).
By: Arabella-Cox - 7th April 2024 at 16:41
Aeronautical Inspection Directorate post the formation of the Air Ministry c.1921. Prior to that I understand it was the Aeronautical Inspection Department.
The image below is from a December 1937 publication.
(the above info disappeared after I first posting – very odd)
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April 7, 2024 at 4:17 pm